Real-time video editing architecture

Abstract

An architecture which allows real-time video editing using a 2D/3D graphics engine. This architecture comprises input and output buffers. It receives video streams from either compressed sources of data or non compressed sources of data. This architecture allows a flexible upgrade of the video effects using software plug ins.

1. A method of editing a plurality of video streams with a graphics accelerator chip that includes a 2D and 3D graphics engine, the method comprising acts of:
 providing a first digital video stream to a graphics accelerator chip; 
 providing a second digital video stream to the graphics accelerator chip; 
 performing video editing on the first digital video stream and the second digital video stream using the 2D and 3D graphics engine; and 
 outputting an edited digital video stream from the graphics accelerator chip, wherein said edited digital video stream includes edited video from at least one of the first digital video stream and the second digital video stream. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an act of receiving a video effect. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising an act of providing a series of commands to the graphics accelerator chip to perform the received video effect on the first digital video stream and the second digital video stream using the 2D and 3D graphics engine. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein each one of the series of commands defines a graphics processing step. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first digital video stream includes a first real-time digital video stream and the second digital video stream includes a second real-time digital video stream. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first digital video stream includes a first uncompressed real-time digital video stream and the second digital video stream includes a second uncompressed real-time video stream. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first digital video stream and the second digital video stream originates from a video data storage medium. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the edited digital video stream includes an edited uncompressed real-time digital video stream.